Mozilla and Microsoft release custom Firefox with Bing

Mozilla and MIcrosoft have teamed up to release a special version of Firefox …

Microsoft and Mozilla have announced a special release of Firefox that integrates with the Bing search engine. The build, which is called Firefox with Bing, is available for users to download from a Microsoft-hosted website.

When Firefox 4 was released last year, it added Bing as one of the available options in the browser's built-in search box. Google remained the default, but Bing became easily accessible to users who prefer Microsoft's search engine. Microsoft and Mozilla also took the opportunity to establish a revenue-sharing agreement around the search integration.

The new "Firefox with Bing" browser sets Bing as the default search engine and comes with Bing configured as the start page. These changes are tied to the special version of the browser and won't impact the current defaults in regular Firefox releases. Users can also optionally install the Bing Search for Firefox add-on to get the same features in a regular Firefox build.

Mozilla has previously released a number of similarly customized Firefox builds in collaboration with various partners. For example, they released a special version of Firefox with Twitter integration earlier this year. Mozilla has been expanding its relationships with commercial partners over the past year, leading to some unexpected tie-ins. The release of Firefox with Bing is merely the latest development.

I fail to understand how this new version has anything new compared to the normal one. It is possible for a user to set their homepage and default search to bing with normal Firefox already. Can these being set as default really be described as features?

I guess Mozilla has to get revenue one way or another. Personally, I've never been a fan of Bing (aka Live Search). The results always seem more spammy and less relevant to me. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I'll just stick with Google, thanks.

I fail to understand how this new version has anything new compared to the normal one. It is possible for a user to set their homepage and default search to bing with normal Firefox already. Can these being set as default really be described as features?

Or is there something else here not in the article?

As Microsoft knows very well, users tend (quite strongly) to use whatever the default is of pretty much any piece of software. So if Bing is not the default, it won't be used. If it is the default, it's likely to be used by the large majority of users.

I fail to understand how this new version has anything new compared to the normal one. It is possible for a user to set their homepage and default search to bing with normal Firefox already. Can these being set as default really be described as features?

Or is there something else here not in the article?

As Microsoft knows very well, users tend (quite strongly) to use whatever the default is of pretty much any piece of software. So if Bing is not the default, it won't be used. If it is the default, it's likely to be used by the large majority of users.

Then it won't help them if the default Firefox download is still Firefox - Google.

I fail to understand how this new version has anything new compared to the normal one. It is possible for a user to set their homepage and default search to bing with normal Firefox already. Can these being set as default really be described as features?

Or is there something else here not in the article?

As Microsoft knows very well, users tend (quite strongly) to use whatever the default is of pretty much any piece of software. So if Bing is not the default, it won't be used. If it is the default, it's likely to be used by the large majority of users.

True, but this is not the official Firefox (which still has Google as default). This is a custom version that you need to find and download. That seems to be a big barrier to users actually getting it, than changing a deafult.

I'm not sure what the point of it is. Are there enough Bing fans that they will actually go searching for "X with Bing" for various X? Maybe Microsoft thinks so.

I fail to understand how this new version has anything new compared to the normal one. It is possible for a user to set their homepage and default search to bing with normal Firefox already. Can these being set as default really be described as features?

Or is there something else here not in the article?

Keep in mind that not all (read most) users will do it. Think of mom and dad (I'm 28), they'll just use whatever comes as a default in the browser.

To us, it's pretty stupid. To the marketing people at Microsoft, it's fucking genius!

All they have to do now is make their website the first result when you search for firefox.

You could argue that the same people that can't be bothered to change defaults won't bother searching for, and installing, a browser. I know I'm wondering that too.

True, but this is not the official Firefox (which still has Google as default). This is a custom version that you need to find and download. That seems to be a big barrier to users actually getting it, than changing a deafult.

I'm not sure what the point of it is. Are there enough Bing fans that they will actually go searching for "X with Bing" for various X? Maybe Microsoft thinks so.

I'm sure it is easier to get OEMs to install this custom build rather than having to spend time/money customizing it themselves.

I don't quite get this. Most Windows people who don't care about their browser use IE anyways. Which has Live Search built into it. And it's not available on Mozilla's site? So you'd have to dig to find the Bing default browser.

Maybe it's just because I personally dislike Bing, that I can't see how this benifits Mozilla at all. Who knows.

True, but this is not the official Firefox (which still has Google as default). This is a custom version that you need to find and download. That seems to be a big barrier to users actually getting it, than changing a deafult.

I'm not sure what the point of it is. Are there enough Bing fans that they will actually go searching for "X with Bing" for various X? Maybe Microsoft thinks so.

I'm sure it is easier to get OEMs to install this custom build rather than having to spend time/money customizing it themselves.

This is a smart move, reminds me of when DIVX started bundling their player with a Yahoo search bar for people who joined up and started using Stage6. It was profitable for both parties. True, this is a different scenario but I like that both Microsoft and Mozilla recognize that they have better odds tackling Google together than they do apart.

I wonder what Firefox gets out of this? Does Microsoft kick in some cash?

Undoubtedly. Mozilla's primary source of income currently is from Google, who pays Mozilla to make Google the default search engine in Firefox.

Given that Google's Chrome browser is a major threat to Firefox, it makes sense for Mozilla to start looking for income elsewhere. That being said, it is odd to see Microsoft advocating another browser.

Microsoft and Mozilla have announced a special release of Firefox that integrates with the Bing search engine. The build, which is called Firefox with Bing, is available for users to download from a Microsoft-hosted website.

While the site is hosted by Microsoft the actual download is hosted by Mozilla, there's a note "You are being redirected to Mozilla to download Firefox. Microsoft is neither licensing nor distributing Firefox to you."

Seems kind of odd that Microsoft is basically just advertising it, but there's probably some licensing thing to it (or at the very least, Microsoft doesn't have to update the software package, Mozilla does.

Anyway, having installed it, all it does is default to bing.com for the homepage and search bar, there's no dedicated page going on that mentions Firefox at all (although the URL does have "?pc=MOZO" in it). But the cynic in me is wondering if this isn't going to be a choice in the Euro browser picker in the near future, rather than the default Firefox.

Seriously. I'm sick of the tin hat wearing folks who hate Google for the sake of hating Google. Put up or shut up. I have only four examples to date that makes me want to shove my foot up Goog's ass.

1. Going after people who are bundling the nonopen sourced apps for Android.

2. The whole naming cluser that is still being played out on G+

3. The whole Google Buzz cluster.

4. The 15 minute return policy on the Android App Store. Down from 24 hours.

Beyond that all you have is a company that has substantial records on you. That aren't being shared with anyone. They are the middle man between your data and people who what to target you with relevant ads. Google does not sell your data. Period.

So with that out of the way. What has Google done in its history to make you twitchy about them vs. What Microsoft has done in their history. I'll be blunt. MS has more of a known history of questionable behavior then Google does. (To be fair in the last 6 years they have become either really good at hiding it or have gotten better with playing well with others.) Seriously track record for track record I trust Google more then I do Microsoft. May that change over time? *shrugs* Maybe. But my opinion of a company is based on behavior and CURRENT behavior pretty much puts both on even ground when it comes to trust.

Seriously. I'm sick of the tin hat wearing folks who hate Google for the sake of hating Google. Put up or shut up. I have only four examples to date that makes me want to shove my foot up Goog's ass.

1. Going after people who are bundling the nonopen sourced apps for Android.

2. The whole naming cluser that is still being played out on G+

3. The whole Google Buzz cluster.

4. The 15 minute return policy on the Android App Store. Down from 24 hours.

Beyond that all you have is a company that has substantial records on you. That aren't being shared with anyone. They are the middle man between your data and people who what to target you with reliant ads. Google does not sell your data. Period.

So with that out of the way. What has Google done in its history to make you twitchy about them vs. What Microsoft has done in their history. I'll be blunt. MS has more of a known history of questionable behavior then Google does. (To be fair in the last 6 years they have become either really good at hiding it or have gotten better with playing well with others.) Seriously track record for track record I trust Google more then I do Microsoft. May that change over time? *shrugs* Maybe. But my opinion of a company is based on behavior and CURRENT behavior pretty much puts both on even ground when it comes to trust.

Calm down, my friend.

I believe the point IHATENAMES was trying to make is that Mozilla currently gets the bulk of its income from Google ad revenues. But with Google obviously gunning for the position of the #1 #2 web browser, it doesn't make sense to have a solid dependency.

I know I'll get flamed for this but I've actually switched and rarely, if ever, use Google. Bing is quite good for me.

I think whether or not an individual finds success with a particular search engine also depends on the search grammar they use. Bing seems to perform well with more natural language expressions whereas Google does better with spatial relevance. Whether or not you find one to be "better" than the other may very well depend on *how* you search for things.

Of course, your mileage may vary and I'm not knocking Google as "bad" search engine. Just a simple reply to your comment.

I know I'll get flamed for this but I've actually switched and rarely, if ever, use Google. Bing is quite good for me.

I think whether or not an individual finds success with a particular search engine also depends on the search grammar they use. Bing seems to perform well with more natural language expressions whereas Google does better with spatial relevance. Whether or not you find one to be "better" than the other may very well depend on *how* you search for things.

Of course, your mileage may vary and I'm not knocking Google as "bad" search engine. Just a simple reply to your comment.

I actually switched a week ago. I still have the default as bing. But several times a day, I am not happy with the Bing results and repeat the exact same search in google and always get better results.

So for just the basic results, Bing seems inferior.

There is a second factor I find lacking in Bing (at least I can't find it) For any search in Google, I can limit to a specific time interval. I find this invaluable when I want it.

Seriously. I'm sick of the tin hat wearing folks who hate Google for the sake of hating Google. Put up or shut up. I have only four examples to date that makes me want to shove my foot up Goog's ass.

1. Going after people who are bundling the nonopen sourced apps for Android.

2. The whole naming cluser that is still being played out on G+

3. The whole Google Buzz cluster.

4. The 15 minute return policy on the Android App Store. Down from 24 hours.

Beyond that all you have is a company that has substantial records on you. That aren't being shared with anyone. They are the middle man between your data and people who what to target you with reliant ads. Google does not sell your data. Period.

So with that out of the way. What has Google done in its history to make you twitchy about them vs. What Microsoft has done in their history. I'll be blunt. MS has more of a known history of questionable behavior then Google does. (To be fair in the last 6 years they have become either really good at hiding it or have gotten better with playing well with others.) Seriously track record for track record I trust Google more then I do Microsoft. May that change over time? *shrugs* Maybe. But my opinion of a company is based on behavior and CURRENT behavior pretty much puts both on even ground when it comes to trust.

Calm down, my friend.

I believe the point IHATENAMES was trying to make is that Mozilla currently gets the bulk of its income from Google ad revenues. But with Google obviously gunning for the position of the #1 #2 web browser, it doesn't make sense to have a solid dependency.

It's risk mitigation. Not a religious topic.

Why should he "calm down"? He had a perfectly reasonable argument, that less people are going to take serious, because they'll relate stronger to your position of telling him to relax. There are psychological reasons why this technique is effective.

So instead of telling someone to calm down when they seem perfectly calm and raise strong points, offer a rebutal without a character assessment please.

I know I'll get flamed for this but I've actually switched and rarely, if ever, use Google. Bing is quite good for me.

I think whether or not an individual finds success with a particular search engine also depends on the search grammar they use. Bing seems to perform well with more natural language expressions whereas Google does better with spatial relevance. Whether or not you find one to be "better" than the other may very well depend on *how* you search for things.

Of course, your mileage may vary and I'm not knocking Google as "bad" search engine. Just a simple reply to your comment.

This is what I hate about Microsoft. Their product is losing money(Bing). So they go out and make this deal. Then you watch, they will have this installed by OEM's. Most people who dont use IE got out and get Firefox or Chrome. Since Microsoft obviously can't do anything about Chrome, they target Mozilla. They also know that most people won't change their search preferences. Most people also won't know/care that the Firefox that came with their machine is different from the one that you normally download. So in the end they drive up the usage of Bing by using Windows as leverage. Didn't they already get into trouble once for using Windows market share to compete in another market? How is this any different?

Fun fact: it's actually easier to use Bing as your default search in Chrome than it is in Firefox. Chrome explicitly asks whether you want to use Google (Default), Bing or Yahoo as your default search engine. FF just defaults to Google and you have to manually change it after install.